Questions about mites

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Hello everyone, I am fairly new to the forums, and since I have been on there has been alot of talking about mites. I have been fortunate enough never to have dealt with them, but I do have questions about them. I have done some reasearch on the Guinea Lynx site and learned some, but I am still confused and I think others maybe also. Do all guinea pig have mites and when they are stressed or whatever they surface? Am right believing that? Some of you treat them yourselves, others go to the vet? I am in the process of adopting my single five year old boar a friend and want to make sure I fully understand the medical issues. I have been very lucky and only had to bring Oreo to the vet for check ups and nail trimmings (in the beginning, able to trim nails myself now )
So please anyone with guinea knowledge enlighten me on this issue. I am also wondering can you tell if they have mites before they scratch themselves raw?
I am hoping that with adopting my new piggy will be healthy, but just to be sure I would like to be more knowledgeable with the health issues than I am.
I also know that even when adopting I have to leave my new pig in a sperate room for three weeks. Anything else to know or watch for????

[aqh88]

The mites usually mentioned on here are very common and present just about everywhere but in small enough amounts the guinea pigs immune system can handle it. When they get stressed out or are exposed to alot of mites at once then they can get a mite infestation. If you are confident enough and can find ivermectin then you can treat them yourself generally for considerably cheaper than most vets. If you don't understand the directions posted on guinealynx or can't find the correct products it's better to go to the vet.
Mites are microscopic. You can't tell they have them. Often times even when a vet does a skin scraping they don't find them. If they are scratching, have sores, hairless, or alot of dandruff they may need a mite treatment. People that have handled lots of different guinea pigs from rescue situations often just start treating all new pigs for mites regardless of symptoms.

When quarantining a pig you can carry mites, lice, and other illnesses on your hands and clothes to your other pig. It's best if possible to always feed and handle the new pig last and wash your hands afterward. If the new pigs shows signs of mites or lice usually it's a good idea to treat both animals even though the new one is quarantined. It's hard to confine parasites like that to just 1 room unless you want to change your clothes and at least wash your hands/arms or take a shower everytime you handle the new pig. Most bacterial illnesses are not carried as easily on clothes and just washing your hands should be enough. Weigh the quarantined pig every 2-3days and watch for breathing problems. Respiratory infections are one of the most common illnesses and weight loss is often the first sign of any illness.

[fallen__angel]

Ive Never had investation either,

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Aqh88:
Thank you for all the knowlegde you shared. I appreciate you writing back with such a detailed reply. I hope I never have to deal with mites, but I guess it is just one of those things with having piggies